Cal State East Bay chief wins Vision Award
CSUEB President Mo Qayoumi (left) accepts the East Bay Economic Development Alliance's Vision Award from Harold Dinter, vice president of Global Biological Development for Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. (Photo: Barry Zepel)
- January 8, 2011
By Chris Metinko
Staff Writer
HAYWARD -- The East Bay Economic Development Alliance has named Cal State East Bay President Mo Qayoumi the recipient of its annual East Bay Vision Award for his work at the school and what it has meant to the region.
"We are thrilled to honor President Qayoumi with the East Bay Vision Award year," said Karen Engel, the alliance's executive director. "His vision for not only the university but the region has inspired so many of us who have had the honor to work with him. His work transcends sectors and even geography. He is a tremendous asset to our region."
The alliance -- which is an organization dedicated to establishing the East Bay's economy -- gives the award to individuals or groups who have "greatly advanced the economic vitalityand quality of life of the Bay Area." Qayoumi was scheduled to receive the award at a reception Friday night.
Previous recipients of the award include: Joe Callahan, president of Callahan Property Co.; former state Sen. Don Perata; and Steve Chu, director of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.
"It is a great honor to accept this award on behalf of the university, the faculty and the 14,000 students of Cal State East Bay," Qayoumi said. "We as a university will continue to play an integral role in the economic recovery and growth of the East Bay, Bay Area region and Northern California. The vision for Cal State East Bay is fundamentally connected to -- and inspired by -- the workforce, economic and social needs of our communities.
"Together with the East Bay Economic Development Alliance, we have already taken remarkable strides working together as catalysts for positive change, reinvention and expansion of our economy," Qayoumi said.
He became president of Cal State East Bay in 2006, after leaving Cal State Northridge, where he had served as vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer since 2000.